Cruise Ship Odyssey Suspends World Voyage in Cambodia as Fuel Costs Force Passengers to Leave Their Floating Home

A United States cruise ship on a residential world voyage has suspended its operations in Cambodia because of fuel costs, forcing its passengers to abandon the ship that had been their floating home for more than two years.

The Odyssey, operated by Florida-based Villa Vie Residences, halted at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville with 203 passengers of 15 nationalities aboard, most of them Americans, along with 156 crew members. Passengers have been told to leave the ship. The status of the crew was unclear.

Fuel costs that the company says it could not carry

Villa Vie said monthly fuel expenses per cabin, which historically averaged $1,800, recently reached an estimated $6,000 to $8,000 in parts of Asia during the war in Iran. The company said it tried to reduce fuel consumption by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port, but it was unable to offset the surge in costs.

"We have been unable to continue carrying the resulting operating losses," the company said in its statement. "Passing the full increase on to residents is not a realistic solution. Our focus now is on supporting residents, crew, and employees."

A five day port call that did not end

The Sihanoukville Autonomous Port said the Odyssey docked on Oct. 23 for a five day visit and was due to head to Vietnam next. Instead, the ship remained in the port on Wednesday, Oct. 28, after the company announced the suspension.

The suspension was reported on Oct. 27 by BBC News, NBC News, CNA and USA Today, in addition to the Associated Press report. Villa Vie issued its own press release from Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 27 announcing the suspension and a restructuring.

More than 750 days into a voyage planned to 2027

The Odyssey set sail two years ago on a three and a half year voyage to the seven continents. It was marketed as a way of combining long-term living at sea with global travel, and residents bought or rented cabins as a home rather than taking a holiday sailing. The ship has capacity for 650 residents, and it had been at sea for more than 750 days when operations halted.

Its confirmed itinerary ran into November 2027, so the halt cuts the voyage well short of its planned end. Villa Vie had planned for a second residential cruise ship to enter service in early 2029, but its statement on the suspension did not address that second ship.

What happens to the passengers now

Villa Vie said it is working with passengers to arrange temporary accommodation and disembarkation plans in Sihanoukville while it undertakes a 60-day restructuring and recapitalisation process. For the 203 people aboard, that means leaving the cabins that served as their homes and finding somewhere to stay in a Cambodian port city while the company's next steps are decided. The company said its focus is on supporting residents, crew and employees, and it has not said whether the voyage will resume.